 Wireless in the EnterpriseThis newsletter is sponsored by Raritan Computer, Inc. Data Center Build outs Simplified Network World's Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, 09/03/07Is Motorola-Aruba lawsuit the tip of the iceberg?By Joanie WexlerMotorola stirred up a potential hornet's nest in the Wi-Fi community last week when it filed a lawsuit against Aruba Networks for infringement of several wireless LAN patents. Will other WLAN vendors selling centralized systems be targeted next, potentially changing the dynamics and pricing structure of the entire Wi-Fi industry? Motorola received patents in February of this year for the so-called WLAN switch technology that its recent acquisition, Symbol Technologies, introduced in 2002. Symbol’s Mobius switch was the first WLAN system on the market to move network intelligence out of distributed radio access points and into a centralized hub for more scalable provisioning and management. A series of startup companies followed with similar centralized designs: Aruba, Airespace (now merged with Cisco), Trapeze Networks, and Meru Networks, to name a few.
Motorola is suing Aruba for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,173,922, “Multiple Wireless Local Area Networks Occupying Overlapping Physical Spaces,” and Patent No. 7,173,923, “Security in Multiple Wireless Local Area Networks.” The company is also suing for infringement on two patents awarded in 2003 to a 2005 Motorola acquisition, Wireless Valley, for site survey/RF planning tools. Aaron Bernstein, VP and deputy general counsel, intellectual property, for Symbol/Motorola, said Motorola’s intent is to protect its shareholders. But rather than seeking licensing fees and royalties, its aim is to “exclude the further use of our patent innovation,” he said. “It doesn’t match up that this is good for shareholders if you don’t want royalties,” said Iain Gillot, president of iGR Research, a mobile and wireless research firm in Austin, Texas. “It’s a little odd to…have a patent and only exercise it yourself. There’s more to be gained by getting some money out of it.” Bernstein did say that Motorola might be entitled to monetary damages, even for use prior to the patent being awarded because pending patent applications are made public. It’s difficult to speculate what lies beneath. Bernstein wouldn’t comment on whether it intends to file suits against other companies with similar designs. Aruba spokesperson Michael Tennefoss said at press time that his company hadn’t yet been served with papers so he couldn't comment.
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| Contact the author: Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at joanie@jwexler.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Raritan Computer, Inc. Data Center Build outs Simplified ARCHIVEArchive of the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATUREIT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESTo subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007 |
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